In 2027 at the latest, the second passenger tunnel at Amsterdam Zuid station (the Brittenpassage) will be opening. At the same time, the existing passenger tunnel will close for several years for thorough refurbishment. As a result, trains will no longer be able to stop above this passageway, but will be able to stop above the new Brittenpassage, around 100 m further to the west. The place where the trains stop will move much earlier than that, from 2 March 2026. This will remain the case for a period of several years. However, metros will continue to stop at the usual place until the Brittenpassage opens.
Why so soon?
Making it possible for the trains to stop in a different place – even just 100 m away – requires a lot of work around the track. This includes relocating the signalling and repositioning cables. This can only be done safely when there are no trains running, which means taking the track out of operation. That needs to be prepared well in advance. This is because ProRail not only needs to make adjustments to its schedule at Amsterdam Zuid station, but also on the other routes and works in the region. In this case, the timing of the necessary closure of the track – which will happen in the weekend of 28 February to 1 March 2026 – was decided on and agreed two years in advance. This means it cannot now easily be changed.
How will this affect passengers?
Until the Brittenpassage opens, railway passengers will need to walk a few minutes longer to and from the existing passenger tunnel (the Minervapassage). It will also take slightly longer to change onto a train or metro. However, the platform entrances in Parnassusweg will still remain open. For some passengers, this will actually mean a shorter walking time to and from the train, for example people arriving from VU Amsterdam or the Amsterdam UMC (VUmc location).
Railway platform extended to above Parnassusweg
To create more space for passengers, we have lengthened the railway platforms on the west side by around 100 m in recent months. This temporary extension to reach above Parnassusweg has been fitted with roofs to maximise passenger comfort as far as possible. On the east side, above the existing passenger tunnel, around the same length of railway platform will be removed. This section will be closed off to enable us to carry out preparatory work for the later refurbishment of the existing passageway. Only when this passageway has been completely renewed, will the trains start stopping between the two passenger tunnels. At that time, we will also be removing the temporary platform extension above Parnassusweg.
N.B.:
In the weekend from Saturday, 28 February to Sunday, 1 March 2026, there will be no trains running from and to Amsterdam Zuid station.
Until 4 April 2026, both platform entrances will be accessible from Parnassusweg (platforms 1 and 2), but only from the south side of the viaduct because of work on cables and pipelines. Crossing underneath the viaduct from north to south and vice-versa will not be possible.
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